@CanesHoops Season Opener: Nov. 14 vs. Howard
Nov. 14, 2014 | 7 p.m.
BankUnited Center | Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: ESPN3
Radio: 560 WQAM | WVUM 90.5
Web: ESPN3
— / RV Miami: 0-0 vs. Howard (0-0)
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The Game
Miami opens the 2014-15 campaign against Howard University on Nov. 14 at the BankUnited Center. Tipoff for the game is at 7 p.m.
The Series
Miami is 1-1 in the series against Howard, which dates back to the 1991-92 season. Miami won the last matchup against Howard, defeating the Bison 87-71, on Nov. 29. 2001 at home.
The Broadcasts
Catch the game on ESPN3 with Kevin Corke and Stan Heath making the call. Also check out the game on 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki, the Voice of the Hurricanes, as well as WVUM 90.5 radio, Miami’s student station.
The Coach
Head coach Jim Larrañaga has a 536-370 overall record in his 31st season as a head coach. He is 66-36 in his third season at the University of Miami.
The Polls (as of Nov. 10)
USA TODAY: Miami – RV, Howard – NR KenPom.com: Miami – 57, Howard – 348
The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables – 80/66. Washington, D.C. – 46/34.
Up Next
Miami travels north to Gainesville, Fla., to face the Gators on Nov. 17 before heading to the Charleston Classic in South Carolina, Nov. 20-23.
2014-15 Quick Hits
• Miami received a vote in the USA TODAY Preseason Coaches Poll released in October.
• UM has nine scholarship players available for the season opener on Nov. 14. This is the second-straight season the Canes open the campaign with eight or more new players and only nine available scholarship players.
• Miami has 10 new players on the roster for 2014-15: Eight scholarship newcomers, one D-I transfer who must sit out and one walk-on.
• UM opens the 2014-15 campaign with just two players from the 2013-14 season, in sophomore Manu Lecomte and junior Tonye Jekiri. Sophomore Davon Reed is out until at least January with a lower extremity injury.
• Seven of Miami’s nine available scholarship players didn’t wear a Miami uniform last season.
• Miami’s 14-man roster includes players from five countries – Belgium, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Spain, U.S. – six states – Florida, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Hampshire – and Washington, D.C.
• There are no seniors playing for the Canes. Miami has one graduate student, five juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen.
• Three D-I transfers are eligible to play in 2014-15: Sheldon McClellan (Texas), Angel Rodriguez (Kansas State) and Joe Thomas (Niagara).
• The Canes lost six players – including three starters and the team’s top two scorers – from the 2013-14 season, five to graduation and one transferred.
• Miami lost five of its top seven players from 2013-14. To open the 2013-14 season, Miami had lost its top six players from the 2012-13 campaign.
• The Canes return 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks per game from the 2013-14 season. A year ago, Miami opened the 2013-14 season returning 9.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game.
• For the second-straight season, Miami returns the fewest points per game (18.4) and rebounds per game (9.2) of all ACC schools.
• The Canes held opponents to just 59.5 points per game in 2013-14, which was ranked No. 11 of 345 teams in Division I. Miami also averaged 61.5 ppg, which was ranked No. 337.
• The Canes lost 10 games by five points or less, or in overtime, during the 2013-14 season, on their way to a 17-16 overall record.
• UM’s backcourt could be labeled as one of the best in the ACC, despite the lack of experience in a Miami jersey. An All-Big 12 performer in 2012-13, transfer Angel Rodriguez leads the charge for the Canes after averaging 11.4 points and 5.2 assists at Kansas State. Classmate Sheldon McClellan put up 13.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per night for the University of Texas in 2012-13, adding experienced firepower for Miami. Rookie Ja’Quan Newton was a high-volume prep scorer, recording 1,972 career points at Neumann-Goretti High in Philadelphia and redshirt freshman Deandre Burnett averaged 37 ppg in his final season at Carol City High in Miami. Fellow freshman James Palmer averaged 15.7 ppg for a strong St. John’s College HS team.
• Sophomore Manu Lecomte is the only returning guard from the 2014-15 season, bringing experience in the form of 7.7 points and 2.3 assists per game as a rookie last year. When he is cleared from injury, Davon Reed will bring his matured, stronger, sophomore body to the court, and look to improve on his 6.6 points, 1.2 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game.
Notes on Coach L
• Coach Jim Larrañaga is 14 wins away from 550 career victories and three wins away from 300 conference victories. He started the 2014-15 season with a 536-370 overall and 297-185 conference record in 30 years as a head coach.
• Through three seasons at Miami, Coach Larrañaga has a .647 winning percentage (66-36), which is third-best in school history. Tom McCann (1928-29 and 1931-32) posted a 30-7 mark (.811) and in 13 seasons from 1954-67, Bruce Hale posted a .663 winning percentage with his 220-112 record.
• Entering the 2015 ACC season, Coach Larrañaga is a perfect 6-0 against Boston College and 1-0 vs. Notre Dame in regular season and championship matchups. UM has four wins against Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, while posting three wins over Clemson and NC State. The Canes are split 2-2 with Duke. Miami has not defeated Pittsburgh (0-1) or Syracuse (0-2).
Canes in Spain
• In August, the University of Miami embarked on a 10-day educational and competitive tour to Spain. The Canes were 4-0 against teams from Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid.
• In four games in Spain, Miami outscored its opponent 89.8 to 65.8 ppg and pulled down nearly twice as many rebounds, 51.8 to 27.0 per night. The Canes hit 51.8 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from three and 62.4 percent at the line. UM also averaged 17.8 assists and 13.3 steals per night.
• Individually, four Canes averaged double digits, led by Sheldon McClellan (20.0), followed by Dre Burnett (14.3), Ja’Quan Newton (13.5) and James Palmer (11.5). Spaniard Ivan Cruz Uceda averaged 11.0 rebounds per game while Tonye Jekiri averaged 8.5 rpg. Senior Angel Rodriguez did not play any games in Spain due to injury.
Squad Breakdown (scholarship players only)
Returners (3): Tonye Jekiri, Manu Lecomte, Davon Reed.
Newcomers (9): Deandre Burnett, Ivan Cruz Uceda, Sheldon McClellan, Kamari Murphy, Ja’Quan Newton, James Palmer, Angel Rodriguez, Omar Sherman, Joe Thomas.
Starters Returning (2): Tonye Jekiri, Manu Lecomte.
Starters Lost (3): Garrius Adams, Rion Brown, Donnavan Kirk.
Eligible Transfers (3): Sheldon McClellan, Angel Rodriguez, Joe Thomas.
Incoming Freshmen (3): Ja’Quan Newton, James Palmer, Omar Sherman.
Incoming Transfers (3): Ivan Cruz Uceda, Kamari Murphy, Joe Thomas.
Rodriguez on Cousy Watch List
Junior PG Angel Rodriguez is one of 36 players listed on the watch list for the 2015 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award.
Seasons of Change
Miami faces back-to-back seasons with roster turnover after losing six players from the 2012-13 ACC Championship season – five to graduation, one to NBA – then six seniors (5 scholarship) after the 2013-14 campaign.
